Claudia's Corner: Stage now for spring market

Wednesday

Jan 25, 2012 at 2:00 AMJan 26, 2012 at 3:15 PM

If you plan on putting your house on the market this spring, it's not too early to get busy preparing it for sale. Most people are aware of the transformations of a staged home, thanks to shows on cable television. But not every home needs a made-for-TV staging.

If you plan on putting your house on the market this spring, it's not too early to get busy preparing it for sale. Most people are aware of the transformations of a staged home, thanks to shows on cable television. But not every home needs a made-for-TV staging.

Let's keep it real and get down to staging basics. Clutter eats equity. It really is that simple. The more stuff that's overloaded into a room, the less you see of the room itself. Clutter also makes rooms appear smaller. This is the time to decide what is moving with you and what is not. If it's not, get rid of it now. If it is not necessary, pack it away. Small items cause visual clutter. Large pieces, like too much furniture, distracts from room size and architectural features.

Clean your house. This includes every nook and cranny, every closet, every window. Consider getting it professionally cleaned once you edit the clutter and furniture.

Repair everything that needs fixing. As prospective buyers start adding up all the negatives, it creates a feeling that the home has been neglected. Unless the price reflects the neglect and lack of home repair, they begin to wonder about everything they can't see that has not been maintained.

You have to spend money to make money. The more prepping and staging you do before you put the 'for sale' sign up, the higher the amount it sells for, and the fewer days it spends on the market. If your home is currently on the market with no interest or offers you have to ask yourself: How does my house look to buyers? If it is not appealing both in person and online, it won't sell. Look at the listing photos where first impressions are formed. Would you want to live there? Be objective.

Even beautifully decorated homes need staging

Recently I staged a home in Tappan that's being listed by Jeannie Costanzo at Keller Williams Orange County Market Center in Goshen. The home was beautiful. The only rooms that needed a bit of tweaking were the living room and family room.

The walls of a room define the space. The furniture that fills the space creates the space and defines the function of the space. Furniture does not have to be placed against the walls, especially in living rooms. Shoving the seating against the wall disconnects not only the furniture but also the people within the space.

The simple solution for both the living room and family room of this house was to bring the furniture into the space to create a conversational area. Now the people who will experience the space can not only connect to each other but also can comfortably view the television no matter where they are seated.

Feedback from the

homeowner: "We love it, and the changes make sense." That is what staging is all about: having each room look good both in person and online. It's the positives that emotionally connect the buyer that get a house sold.

Claudia Jacobs is a decorator, professional stager and owner of Claudia Jacobs Designs in Goshen. Visit www.claudiajacobsdesigns.com or call 294-8993. Send questions and photos to info@claudiajacobsdesigns.com.